trvanie: 9:25
Vox's Estelle Caswell and Joss Fong debate "The Star Spangled Banner"
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When Francis Scott Key attached his poem about the War of 1812 to a popular British song called "To Anacreon in Heaven," he kicked off over 200 years of painfully bad singing by patriotic Americans. The Star Spangled Banner became the official national anthem of the United States in 1931, but it had been used by the Army and Navy for decades before that and was popular from the start. One big problem? The melody wasn't exactly written for the masses, but for trained soloists.
Commentators pointed out early on that it was exceedingly difficult for most people to sing, suggesting that "America the Beautiful" might be a better alternative. Critics have noted that the music requires a uniquely wide vocal range, it's full of tricky intervals, and the lyrics are confusing and uninspiring.
But if you look at the national anthem as a sport, where we get to watch performers at the top of their game tackle the gauntlet that is the Star Spangled Banner, you may come to appreciate it. In this video, we debate whether the difficulty of the Star Spangled Banner is a feature or a bug for a national anthem.
Further reading:
Star-Spangled Banner: The Unlikely Story of America's National Anthem www.amazon.com/Star-Spangled-Banner-Unlikely-Americas-National/dp/1421415186
Star Spangled Music: starspangledmusic.org/
Slate: Proudly Hailed www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2014/07/the_star_spangled_banner_four_reasons_it_shouldn_t_be_the_national_anthem.html
Emily Cope: medium.com/@emilybcope/music-to-what-extent-does-the-star-spangled-banner-illustrate-how-melody-and-rhythm-influence-the-aff2c78853ed
Some songs don't just stick in your head, they change the music world forever. Join Estelle Caswell on a musical journey to discover the stories behind your favorite songs.
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vox.com vox explain national anthem star spangled banner american national anthem why the national anthem is so hard to sing national anthem vox july 4th earworm vox national anthem worst national anthems best national anthems francis scott key national anthem debate joss fong estelle caswell
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Komentáre
Vox
If you want to learn more about the anthem, check out this site: http://starspangledmusic.org/blog/ They're obsessed with the Star Spangled Banner and have tons of interesting facts and videos. This book by Marc Ferris is also really interesting https://www.amazon.com/Star-Spangled-Banner-Unlikely-Americas-National/dp/1421415186/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Pred 7 mesiacmiHTHTV3
@2:22 Most do not believe that *that mic* wasn't on when the late great #WhitneyHouston sung it... is there any proof? The studio where she supposedly pre-recorded it? #Receipts? Many may aim to revoke accolades she honestly earned.
Pred 2 mesiacmiJESUS Loves cats
I really thought it was terrible
Pred 3 mesiacmiJack Daniels
Vox thanx .. for your advice... although I am a saudi man I love to listen to the US National Anthem.
Pred 3 mesiacmiI love noodles
Vox This is an insult and un American. How dare you!!!!
Pred 4 mesiacmiToryu-Mau
... So... Git Good? >):^?
Pred 5 mesiacmiFree Spirit
LYING HATER!
Pred 23 hodinamiGamingMint
*Stop VOX*
Pred dňomJan D
The US should just make "This land is your land, this land is my land" their anthem. Also, imagine your current president trying to sing the anthem. He doesn't even know the words, lol.
Pred dňomJulia Shab
All rise for the national anthem . . . *Is this the real life, is this just fantasy*
Pred dňomMarsbar Marsbar
I saw this video under up next and I thought ok what does this jackass have to say and then I saw the and perfect and I was like oh😂
Pred dňomJulia Burch
Yall have obviously never listened to the podcast punch up the jam with miel and Demi. Demi made a PERFECT new anthem while talking about the old one, and y'all should really check the podcast out
Pred dňomB 12
Sad you can’t remember the lyrics to the star spangled banner, but can to mo bamba.
Pred dňomB 12
It’s not the songs fault you can’t sing.
Pred dňomlordfullofyogurt
Watch Adam Neely.
Pred 2 dňamiLoel Azarcon
Well how rude
Pred 2 dňamiKendrick Hernandez
I’ve sang this song since I was born...so I know the words by heart. Ive never met anyone who could not memorize this song or learn the words. And yes I watched the whole video. Can’t say I agree...but eh.
Pred 2 dňamiWill 1
I get chills when I sing the greatest song ever made dedicated to the greatest country in the world tf you talking about replacing it shame on you
Pred 2 dňamiShiro Kobayashi
I actually love the US anthem. It's my third fave out of the 12 anthems ive heard 💙💙 love from phil 💙
Pred 2 dňamiEdzilla Notlastname
i haven't sung the athem in years
Pred 2 dňamiGam Jam
Doesn't it have racist lyrics too?
Pred 2 dňamiunderestimated kid
I like Indian national Anthem because it's short and easy to sing I don't know which language it is
Pred 3 dňaminata
Indonesia Raya spans 12 notes and yes, I can't sing lowest and the highest note.
Pred 3 dňamiIGitzDiz
yeah
Pred 3 dňamiInternet Explorer
The extra notes are meant to show off
Pred 4 dňamiAlex Leigh
i liked the jose felliciono
Pred 4 dňamiNeon Light
America needs something like USSR. That anthem has a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm. Also America copied the song "To Anacreon in heaven".... made in the UK.
Pred 4 dňamiErdyanto Dwi Nugroho Zheng
+Will 1 Yeah, the lyrics was made by Francis Scott Key, but the tones were not made him, he was taken the Anacreontic Song (To Anacreon in Heaven) that actually from British song into this. He made to be higher notes than the original version (I mean the Anacreontic Song). So that's why, nobody can sing this anthem and just the trained singers can sing this. To me, I can sing this because I am trained singer when I was in school choir...........
Pred dňomWill 1
Neon Light wait wut the American anthem is naturally made by Francis Scott key
Pred 2 dňamiJoel Dick
I always loved the lyrics of Hail, Columbia: Hail, ye heroes, heav'n-born band, Who fought and bled in freedom's cause, Who fought and bled in freedom's cause, And when the storm of war was gone Enjoy'd the peace your valor won. Let independence be our boast, Ever mindful what it cost;
Pred 5 dňamigareter saudi arabia السعودية العظمى
Islamic anthem then Allah make amirca garet agien
Pred 5 dňamiLil Sergeant
It was poem it wasn’t written with being the national anthem in mind
Pred 5 dňamiArtemis420
O say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner — O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! (For everyone else trying to sing it while watching this)
Pred 6 dňamiGam Jam
Artemis420 that's not the full song thou
Pred 2 dňamiKalani W
How about the Australian National anthem?
Pred 6 dňamiI'm Happily In Pain
I like the anthem
Pred 6 dňamiSandwich Vendor
if this was released in the 70s and not so popular hipsters would be calling it the most genius song ever.
Pred 6 dňamiBrian Kehinde
"Free" is on a note most people can't reach. How appropriate.
Pred 8 dňamialejandro ojeda
Our national anthem is so easy to sing, everyone can do it, and I mean it even you can, right now,... I'm from Spain.
Pred 8 dňamiBill Branning
When I was young, everyone sang it at various events.
Pred 8 dňamiFlopDudeGaming
Communist spy. Go back to Russia. Jk
Pred 8 dňamiPaz y Amor
Wait absolutely loved felicianos version ❤️
Pred 9 dňamiFrella Forever
Guess I have an unnatural voice, I have a 14 note range. From B3 to G5.
Pred 9 dňamiKevin
S O V I E T A N T H E M
Pred 10 dňamimelanie
LA MARSEILLAISE !!! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
Pred 10 dňamiMrMeowington
woah dude, even our national anthem is better lmao 😂
Pred 11 dňamiALDC Llama Cat
I think it's better that it's hard because it makes it more impressive when people sing it because not everyone can do it.
Pred 11 dňamiCaptain Boom
Chill all of you are just trash at singing
Pred 11 dňamiwesmatron
It originated as a bawdy drinking song in England
Pred 11 dňamiDinosuar Lover
i can sing it ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Pred 12 dňamiViktor Nikiforov
Dude...it's not that hard when you can sing. But I sing it chorally, and I have to hit a high b flat at the end, since that's the first soprano part. I could never sing it all in my chest voice.
Pred 12 dňamissplintergirl
It takes skill to be an american
Pred 12 dňamiNela MSG
José Feliciano is a master 👌🏻
Pred 13 dňamiYardBird Suite
what do all these singers have in common... there all drug addicts
Pred 13 dňamiMike Hunt.
It's an awesome anthem prove me wrong. *Watches video. Yeah you failed. 🇺🇸🦅
Pred 13 dňamiAustyn Guevara
WHERE IS MARIAHS COVER
Pred 13 dňamiPablo Munoz-Snyder
They brought on a music theorist and didn't even talk about the textbook secondary dominants that exist in this song. They must think that we are too dumb to appreciate that.
Pred 13 dňamiEdu Melero Verdú
Pretty disappointed you didn't include Rosseanne's rendition, but very enjoyable video overall, nonetheless.
Pred 14 dňamiSunset Gao
You can sing something proudly without sounding good you know...
Pred 15 dňamimacdaddyalexis
I was waiting for Mariah!!!
Pred 15 dňamimacdaddyalexis
Only Mariah and Whitney sung it perfectly.
Pred 15 dňamiMaya S
Lady Gaga's rendition in 2016 is the best imo.
Pred 15 dňamiNiggers Suck
Ok Vox, continue with your leftism hating America agenda.
Pred 15 dňamiColonel Catnip
This is like saying Freddie Mercury’s music was terrible because most people can’t sing his range...
Pred 16 dňamiViolet Rose
So you didn’t talk about how it used to be a drinking or song or that fact that there a stanza of the original poem by scott key that celebrates the death of slaves? :( (If you don’t believe me you can look it up)
Pred 16 dňaminot a asshole
Our national anthem isn't the best and easiest to sing. But still very very beautiful
Pred 16 dňamiChristian Eesa
Sing it no matter how bad u sound It's of the people by the people for the people Proud to sing it and praise it
Pred 16 dňamiMorpheus Hill
I don't know about you, but an anthem is not made to be sung in perfect pitch by every member of that nation. It is a representation of that nation, be it's morals, prowess, or resolve. Nothing sums America up more than the star spangled banner. People seem to truly forget the sacrifices that were made to make our unique nation. On that day men literally were dying to keep the flag flying by grouping together and holding the pole up while under bombardment from the British. Not for just the flag, but for the belief behind it. A free America, the star bangled banner tells that story. It shows how patriotic Americans are, and how passionate we are for our free states. Wanting to change it because it's difficult to sing is dumb, lastly, claiming our nation for our own was not easy, and holding that flag up on that day wasn't either. Maybe you can make the sacrifice as well and sing the song, regardless of it's difficulty
Pred 17 dňamisuperrowen
5:37 this guy's voice is in Jaden Smith - Icon
Pred 17 dňamiBuzz Offer
The notes are not that bad and is actually within the average range of a normal human voice, although the jumps are far apart, the notes are still reasonable, you guys just suck at singing
Pred 17 dňamideja labeija
The trailblazers coach warmed my heart 💞
Pred 17 dňamiKawaii Love
um... i can sing it without screaming... it’s not difficult....i mean...either i’m super wrong or i’m kinda talented...idk what it is.........
Pred 17 dňamiKelvin Adithya
It's nice to see them to make rendition of that song. In Indonesia, people are so butthurt that if you make the rendition of the anthem, they will sue you
Pred 17 dňamiDANIEL ERON
Yeah, I’ve always thought that this anthem sucks , nice to see that I’m not the only one
Pred 17 dňamikalvin john
The "last gleaming" is hard and also remembering
Pred 17 dňamiIain
Our national anthem is perfect and it shall never change. Merica!
Pred 17 dňamiratchet
My country's national anthem has very few lyrics yet takes forever to sing
Pred 18 dňamiMartin Nunez
Stolen
Pred 18 dňamiDonald J. Trump
God Bless America
Pred 19 dňamimarinara724
any american who doesn't know our anthem disappoints me
Pred 20 dňamiD. Cho
We Murica's national anthem is always the best... Perfect in any way 😂😂
Pred 20 dňamiElijah Schmidt vlogs
2:43 rip 1994 world series
Pred 20 dňamiJames WhiteField
Ah more leftist vox propaganda, gotta love it!!!
Pred 20 dňamiSkrixzy
shut up go make a biased article
Pred 20 dňamiSantosZox
Do they really not know the words? Idk why they just fit naturally together in my heads I can't imagine not knowing the words. It tells a story very vivid imagery.
Pred 20 dňamiJosiah Warren
For the record Whitney did perform a 100% live version during her welcome home heros special!
Pred 21 dňomMichael Amankwah-Baidu
*America wants to know your location*
Pred 21 dňomEuropean Guy
In my opinion i think national anthems are supposed to bring the spark of hope in the people
Pred 22 dňamiJames Boyle
Actual best national anthem is Kazakhstan’s from Borat
Pred 22 dňamithat one cuber
The best anthem is fhe soviet anthem
Pred 22 dňamiNotAYouTubeStar
Brittish propaganda
Pred 22 dňamiRobert Latorre
7:40 nice name
Pred 22 dňamiChad Ganshirt
We shouldn't change it.
Pred 22 dňamiBork cream
Let’s use that song where we stole the tune of some other national anthem! *M Y C O U N T R Y T I S O F T H E E*
Pred 22 dňamiNogger Fogger logger 69
Stfu
Pred 23 dňamiMediumMemeMaster
Here’s why the anthem sucks; You hear it everyday in school and must listen to it every day. The lack of a choice makes it hated. No one cares about it. The country is great, anthem sucks
Pred 23 dňamiMichael Mangraviti
Replace the American National Anthem with the Soviet anthem then boom perfect.
Pred 23 dňamiMithren
This is pretty disrespectful. “The song is too hard to sing, it sucks” like, come on.
Pred 24 dňamiMr Pete
Vox needs to shut up
Pred 24 dňamiDakota
Who’s playing the national anthem at 0:55
Pred 24 dňamiSofia's World
Why the YouTube channel Vox is terrible...
Pred 24 dňamiAvionic7779x
Just. Let. The. Armed. Forces. Sing. The. Anthem. Please
Pred 24 dňamidoggo
A good number of examples you gave of people singing don't sound like they could sing Hot Cross Buns. To be fair, I don't think that the difficulty of singing should mean much. It is worth noting that it was written as a poem and put to the tune of a British drinking song (weird combo lol). I do not, however, believe that the difficulty of the song should out way the meaning behind the words.
Pred 24 dňamiRADIOSOAP -Aldy H
*some normal person fails to sing the star spangled theme * Americans: cool *blind person plays it well Americans: kys
Pred 25 dňamiAnOstrichYoutubing
Lol! The crowd booed?! Triggered much?
Pred 25 dňamiTim Mackie
And most of those people in attendance (at least the ones who are still alive now) are probably the same people who now complain about millennials being offended by everything...
Pred 12 dňamiMineFall MG - the stop motion maker
Am I the only one who doesn't have a problem with it?
Pred 25 dňamiratchet
MineFall MG - the stop motion maker no, I'm not even from the USA
Pred 18 dňamiMohammad Husnul Rahmadi
maybe american must sing more their national anthem. for example, in indonesia we sing our national anthem every week on monday. :D
Pred 26 dňamiMeghan Mihalko
Just because you can't sing it it doesn't mean it should change, the world doesn't revolve around you, Vox
Pred 26 dňamiArvin Gavan
The soviet anthem is still the best
Pred 26 dňami